Article of footwear having active regions and secure regions

Abstract

An article of footwear for climbing is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a sole structure including at least an outsole and having a concave shape; and an upper secured to the sole structure. The upper includes a textile including an active region and a secure region, the active region being between a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper at least in an area of the upper at a toe side of an area corresponding to a ball of a foot disposed in the article of footwear. The article of footwear provides for stretchibility in the active region and support in the secure region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole structure comprising at least an outsole and having a concave shape; and   an upper secured to the sole structure comprising a textile comprising a first active region and a secure region, the first active region being between a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper at least in an area of the upper at a toe side of an area configured to correspond to a ball of a foot disposed in the article of footwear,   wherein the first active region is elastically stretchable in at least one direction,   wherein the secure region is formed or disposed about a heel region of the upper and has a greater stretch-resistance than the first active region,   wherein the upper is a unitary and circular knitting textile upper, the upper being provided with an opening configured for foot insertion,   
       wherein the upper further comprises a tongue portion at a top portion of the upper, and the tongue portion comprises a tongue secure region and a tongue active region elastically stretchable in at least a transverse direction of the article of footwear, the tongue portion partly defining the opening of the upper. 
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one direction is a transverse direction of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises a second active region at the lateral side of the article of footwear and a third active region at the medial side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the second active region at the lateral side and the third active region at the medial side each extend in a direction between the sole structure and a top portion of the upper and are elastically stretchable in a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the second active region at the lateral side and the third active region at the medial side are each elastically stretchable in a transverse direction of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the secure region extends farther along the lateral side of the upper than along the medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises an opening through which a foot is extendable, the opening being at least partially bound by an elastically stretchable active region. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole structure comprising at least an outsole and having a concave shape; and   an upper secured to the sole structure comprising a textile comprising a first active region and a secure region, the first active region being between a lateral side of the upper and   a medial side of the upper at least in an area of the upper at a toe side of an area configured to correspond to a ball of a foot disposed in the article of footwear,   wherein the upper is a unitary and circular knitting textile upper,   wherein the secure region comprises one continuous area formed or disposed at least on the medial side of the upper over an entire length of the upper,   wherein the upper further comprises a second active region in the midfoot region of the lateral side of the upper and a third active region in the midfoot region of the medial side of the upper, the second and third active regions being separated from each other by the secure region,   wherein the first, second and third active regions are elastically stretchable in at least one direction.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the continuous area of the secure region extends farther along a lateral edge of the lateral side of the upper than along a medial edge of a medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein, in a midfoot region of the upper, the continuous area of the secure region is formed or disposed toward a top portion of the upper on both the lateral and medial sides of the upper. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole structure comprising at least an outsole; and   an upper secured to the sole structure comprising a textile comprising an active region and a secure region, the secure region being disposed about a heel region of the upper and extending farther along a lateral side of the upper than along a medial side of the upper,   wherein the active region is elastically stretchable in at least one direction,   wherein the upper is a unitary and circular knitting textile upper, the upper being provided with an opening configured for foot insertion,   wherein the upper further comprises a tongue portion at a top portion of the upper, and the tongue portion comprises a tongue secure region and a tongue active region elastically stretchable in at least a transverse direction of the article of footwear, the tongue portion partly defining the opening of the upper.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the active region is between the lateral side of the upper and the medial side of the upper at least in an area of the upper at a toe side of an area configured to correspond to a ball of a foot disposed in the article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein each of the second and third active regions includes a plurality of separate active portions. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein each of the second and third active regions includes a plurality of active portions, each of the plurality of active portions being surrounded by the secure region.